Historical QOD 11/20/08: Acute poisoning involving nutmeg primarily involves nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain as well as a variety of CNS and cardiovascular effects. The genus and species of the nutmeg tree is Myristica fragrans.What are the toxicologically relevant components of nutmeg?
Nutmeg contains 5-15% volatile oils, a mixture of alkyl benzene derivatives, terpenes and myristic acid. Myristicin, elemicin and safrole make up 80% of the alkylbenzene derivatives.
Stein U, Greyer H, Hentschel H. Nutmeg (myristicin) poisoning–report on a fatal case and a series of cases recorded by a poison information centre. Forensic Sci Int. 2001 Apr 15;118(1):87-90. doi: 10.1016/s0379-0738(00)00369-8. PMID: 11343860.
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